Decision Letter
Appeal Number: 403
Decision Date: October 2, 2014
Associate Dean: J. Hugh Horton, Ph.D.
Student Name: Matthew Bachan
Student Email: 1mzb@queensu.ca
Mr. Matthew Bachan
1mzb@queensu.ca
Dear Mr. Bachan:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you already know, the academic requirements in the Faculty of Arts and Science are clearly outlined in the Academic Regulation section of the Calendar. The requirement to withdraw is invoked only where students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling is designed to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success.
The Academic Regulations stipulate that waiving the requirement to withdraw can be considered only where a student€™s academic performance is affected by extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control. The requirement to withdraw is waived only in rare and exceptional circumstances where documentation makes clear that the difficulties are temporary rather than ongoing or that these difficulties have been dealt with in such a way that the student may make a successful return to the university. While it is clear that you experienced a difficult year at university and that you are eager to return to classes, the appeal did not demonstrate to me that an early return to classes is warranted.
Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance. Additionally, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional. In its decision letter to you of September 29, allowing your appeal of the 21-day deadline to be waived, the Board of Studies noted that you had provided €œinsufficient medical documentation for the dates in question and no documentation to support your other grounds for appeal€. Furthermore the Board warned you that €œthis decision to overturn the Associate Dean€™s decision and allow the appeal was not made easily and that the Board would not typically accept a student€™s undocumented circumstances as grounds for waiving a Faculty Regulation to which all students are expected to abide by. Unfortunately, you have not heeded the Board€™s advice and have not provided any new medical documentation with this appeal. The only documentation provided (identical to that reviewed by the Board) indicates that you were seen in the emergency department at the hospital on two dates: April 30 and May 2, 2014, both of which are after the exam period. There is no documentation supplied to confirm the full timeline and severity of your illness or the impact that it had on your studies; nor has Dr. Harrington chosen to corroborate any of your statements in your appeal letter. Finally, your appeal does not explain your poor academic performance in the Fall of 2013 (prior to your illness) or the fact that, despite having been warned at the end of the 2012/13 academic year that you were on academic probation, why you appear to have taken no steps to address your academic difficulties. Indeed, your transcript shows that your academic performance has been consistently poor throughout each term since the beginning of your studies at Queen€™s.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when a year has lapsed from the time of the initial ruling. Upon your return we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. In returning to a regular course of study it will be your responsibility to choose courses carefully, seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance, and maintain an average consistent with the requirements for successful completion of your program.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean€™s decision to the Board of Studies, you must submit a letter of intent to appeal within 21 days of receiving this decision. Appeal forms are available from this office (F200 Mackintosh-Corry Hall) or on the web: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/student-forms General information on appeals is available at http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-appeals You may contact Mr. Harry Smith, Office of the Ombudsperson for advice on matters of procedure and on obtaining a representative. His office is located in room 153 Richardson Hall and he can be reached by phone (533-6495) or e-mail (ombuds@queensu.ca).
Yours sincerely,
J. Hugh Horton, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
10022175Bachan2
Decision Date: October 2, 2014
Associate Dean: J. Hugh Horton, Ph.D.
Student Name: Matthew Bachan
Student Email: 1mzb@queensu.ca
Mr. Matthew Bachan
1mzb@queensu.ca
Dear Mr. Bachan:
I have carefully considered your appeal to waive the Faculty ruling that you be Required to Withdraw for One Year. After reviewing your file, I have decided to deny your request.
As you already know, the academic requirements in the Faculty of Arts and Science are clearly outlined in the Academic Regulation section of the Calendar. The requirement to withdraw is invoked only where students experience ongoing or extreme academic difficulties. The ruling is designed to provide the student with time away from the university to reflect on and remedy the factors impeding their academic success.
The Academic Regulations stipulate that waiving the requirement to withdraw can be considered only where a student€™s academic performance is affected by extenuating circumstances beyond his or her control. The requirement to withdraw is waived only in rare and exceptional circumstances where documentation makes clear that the difficulties are temporary rather than ongoing or that these difficulties have been dealt with in such a way that the student may make a successful return to the university. While it is clear that you experienced a difficult year at university and that you are eager to return to classes, the appeal did not demonstrate to me that an early return to classes is warranted.
Extenuating circumstances normally involve a significant physical or psychological event that is beyond your control and debilitating to your overall academic performance. Additionally, these kinds of extraordinary situations are normally supported by documentation from a professional. In its decision letter to you of September 29, allowing your appeal of the 21-day deadline to be waived, the Board of Studies noted that you had provided €œinsufficient medical documentation for the dates in question and no documentation to support your other grounds for appeal€. Furthermore the Board warned you that €œthis decision to overturn the Associate Dean€™s decision and allow the appeal was not made easily and that the Board would not typically accept a student€™s undocumented circumstances as grounds for waiving a Faculty Regulation to which all students are expected to abide by. Unfortunately, you have not heeded the Board€™s advice and have not provided any new medical documentation with this appeal. The only documentation provided (identical to that reviewed by the Board) indicates that you were seen in the emergency department at the hospital on two dates: April 30 and May 2, 2014, both of which are after the exam period. There is no documentation supplied to confirm the full timeline and severity of your illness or the impact that it had on your studies; nor has Dr. Harrington chosen to corroborate any of your statements in your appeal letter. Finally, your appeal does not explain your poor academic performance in the Fall of 2013 (prior to your illness) or the fact that, despite having been warned at the end of the 2012/13 academic year that you were on academic probation, why you appear to have taken no steps to address your academic difficulties. Indeed, your transcript shows that your academic performance has been consistently poor throughout each term since the beginning of your studies at Queen€™s.
Keep in mind that you will be eligible to return to the university when a year has lapsed from the time of the initial ruling. Upon your return we hope that you will take advantage of the support services available to you at Queen's. In returning to a regular course of study it will be your responsibility to choose courses carefully, seek out the advice necessary to improve your academic performance, and maintain an average consistent with the requirements for successful completion of your program.
If you wish to appeal the Associate Dean€™s decision to the Board of Studies, you must submit a letter of intent to appeal within 21 days of receiving this decision. Appeal forms are available from this office (F200 Mackintosh-Corry Hall) or on the web: http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/student-forms General information on appeals is available at http://www.queensu.ca/artsci/students-at-queens/academic-appeals You may contact Mr. Harry Smith, Office of the Ombudsperson for advice on matters of procedure and on obtaining a representative. His office is located in room 153 Richardson Hall and he can be reached by phone (533-6495) or e-mail (ombuds@queensu.ca).
Yours sincerely,
J. Hugh Horton, Ph.D.
Associate Dean (Studies)
10022175Bachan2
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